Patients await Vanni access route

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 21 July 1999, 12:26 GMT]Four seriously ill patients who are awaiting treatment at hospitals in the south were taken yesterday by protesters to the ICRC's sub-delegation at Puthukudiyiruppu in the Mullaithivu district, to highlight the difficulties faced by ordinary people since the Vanni access route was closed, the Voice of Tigers(VoT) said this morning.

According to the radio, two of them are neuro-patients and another is suffering from diabetes, while the last is affected by septicaemia.

Dr.S.Sivamohan, the District Medical Officer and the members of Mullaithivu and Puthukudiyiruppu hospitals welfare societies went along with the ambulances.

They appealed to the ICRC officials to make necessary arrangements to transport the patients to Colombo for further medical care, the radio added.

They also handed over a memorandum to the ICRC officials to be sent to the Residential Delegation of the ICRC in Colombo.

Meanwhile the consortium of 37 multi purpose co-operative societies (MPCS) in Kilinochchi district has sent a memorandum to the Secretary General of United Nations to apply pressure on the Sri Lankan government to open an access route to the Vanni immediately without any demands or preconditions, sources said.

"Most of the people in the Vanni depend on the relief food assistance provided by the government. They do not have jobs and permanent income. As the route to the Vanni is closed on June 26, the supply of essential food and other commodities have been suspended. The people are facing malnutrition and starvation" the memorandum said.

"Without a road to the Vanni the patients who are treated with minimum medical facilities in the Vanni hospitals are unable to travel to Vavuniya and to other hospitals in the south for further treatment. Therefore, we urge you to bring pressure on the Sri Lankan government to open a road to the Vanni without any pre conditions" the memorandum said further.